“If we score, we might win, but if they never score, we can’t lose.” This line perfectly sums up Girma’s mantra these past few months, doesn’t it? And it’s not just the national team where she’s shining. For two straight years, Naomi Girma has been crowned the best defender in the NWSL. Some jokingly said that Girma should be named the Secretary of Defense! Now she’s nominated for the US Soccer Female Player of the Year award, alongside four of her talented compatriots. But wait! ESPN’s top host just added his voice to the chatter by making his pick.

Remember the 2024 Olympics? Week in, week out, she had been the wall no one could break. In knockout rounds, not a single goal was conceded, which led to the gold medal victory. Even Emma Hayes couldn’t help but gush about her. “She’s the best defender I’ve ever seen.” From a manager who has coached the likes of Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright, and Ashley Lawrence, it’s incredibly high praise. Being a great defender at such a young age shows that the 24-year-old has a lot more to improve and shine upon.

From triple shot to single focus – how Girma redefines USWNT’s core

Fresh off her nomination for the US Soccer Female Player of the Year award, Naomi is being hailed as the backbone of the USWNT under Emma Hayes. But she’s not alone in this elite category. Alyssa Naeher, Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson round out the stellar list of nominees. The chatter about who truly deserves the title reached an exciting high on Futbol W this week on ESPN FC, where Cristina Alexander and Sebastian Salazar dissected the contenders and also revealed Naomi Girma as the possible winner.

Cristina kicked things off with a pointed question to Sebastian: “Who deserves to win?” With no hesitation, Sebastian went all in on Naomi. “It’s an easy vote for me,” he said confidently, explaining how Naomi isn’t just great she’s irreplaceable. “When you look at the attack, it’s a revolving door. If Mallory Swanson isn’t having her day, you’ve got Trinity Rodman. If Rodman’s off, there’s Sophia Smith. But defensively? There’s no other player who holds it together like Naomi does.”

“Keeping that consistency across both club and national levels is something else entirely.” This is particularly the main reason why Sebastian dismissed Triple Espresso for lacking “constant core” in favor of Naomi Girma. “In five years? If I had to pick one player still anchoring this team, it’s Girma.” Indeed. Look at these.

In the quarter-final tie with Japan, Girma completed 105 passes in the first half alone. It is the most successful pass by any player in a knockout-round match in a major tournament since records began. Then against Zambia, her pass completion stood at 96.3%, the most of any player in an Olympic match since at least 2012. USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher compared her to one of their side’s best-ever defenders Becky Sauerbrunn.

“She reminds me a lot of Becky, honestly. Just in demeanour and the way she goes about (her business) and carries herself. [She] digs in deep and gets the job done,” Naeher said. In fact, back in 2023, even before Girma made her mark on the team’s back line, now-retired forward Megan Rapinoe saw her talent. According to Rapinoe, it was extremely rare for a player to enter the USWNT environment and immediately make their case for the starting XI every single time. Girma did that successfully.

“She’s just that good. Calm, extremely smart. I don’t think her physicality gets talked about enough, deceptively quick. If you have any kind of quickness and brain, then that’s a wrap. She can play any kind of ball. She’s a great leader. She’s just f***ing good,” Rapinoe had said. Undoubtedly, it seems Girma is in for a long run. Her talent is getting well-deserved recognition not only in the US but also internationally.

Just days back, San Diego Wave FC announced that the defender has been nominated for FIFA’s Best Women’s Player Award among 16 others across the world and FIFPRO’s Women’s World 11. She has also been named to the list of 77 players nominated for FIFA’s Best Women’s XI. The FIFPRO World 11 nomination is Girma’s first of her career and it is the only global football award decided exclusively by professional footballers. No wonder, at the young age of 24, she has become, as forward Sophia Smith describes, “the glue to our team.”

Emma Hayes’ secret weapon- Naomi Girma’s big plans for future

Soccer doesn’t just build character it shines a spotlight on it. And if anyone’s character is standing out these days, it’s Naomi Girma. At just 24, the center-back has become Emma Hayes’ not-so-secret weapon. “She’s the best defender in the world right now, and arguably one of the best players in the world at the moment,” says Alyssa Naeher. Let’s start with the stats that make your jaw drop.

Last season, she won 85% of her tackles, putting her in the 98th percentile of center-backs worldwide, with a passing rate of 91.4%, and no defensive errors leading to a goal in over a year. Yet, it’s not just about her technical skills – Girma exudes leadership beyond her natural ability to organize and inspire the rest of the team members, despite far more senior players also being there.

Lindsey Horan is 30. Crystal Dunn is 32. Rose Lavelle is 29. But Girma has taken the role up for Hayes. “It definitely feels weird to be called a veteran. But I’ve had to grow a lot as a leader, and that’s something [Hayes] challenged me with when she first came in,” Girma had said of her role. What’s next on her agenda for her?

Conquering the SheBelieves Cup, where she will face Colombia, Australia, and Japan at the end of February 2025. It’s exactly the kind of stage where she’ll continue to solidify her legacy. However, Emma Hayes has discovered the ideal combination of talent, poise, and vision in a player who is built for today and destined to change the future.